U.S. patent application number 13/083222 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for system and method for providing an electronic representation of a route.
Invention is credited to Peter Mitchell.
Application Number | 20120259545 13/083222 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45955157 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120259545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitchell; Peter |
October 11, 2012 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC REPRESENTATION OF A
ROUTE
Abstract
Disclosed is a computer systems, methods and computer program
products for providing an electronic representation of a route. A
display device displays a plurality of sequential displays of the
ground level area representations along the recorded route
including: a first display comprising an origin location area
representation; a plurality of sequential displays comprising
sequential location area representations along the route; and a
last display of a destination location area representation. The at
least one ground level image can be a photographic image. A record
of a route is recorded by a GPS device.
Inventors: |
Mitchell; Peter; (Dublin,
IE) |
Family ID: |
45955157 |
Appl. No.: |
13/083222 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/527 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3647 20130101;
G08G 1/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/527 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/00 20060101
G01C021/00 |
Claims
1. A method of providing an electronic representation of a route,
comprising, in at least one computer and a computer readable
storage medium or media including computer code: accessing a record
of a route from an origin location to a destination location;
receiving a plurality of ground level area representations of
locations corresponding locations along the recorded route
including an origin location and a destination location; the at
least one computer and the computer readable storage medium or
media including computer code that causes the at least one computer
to cause a display device to display thereon: a plurality of
sequential displays of the ground level area representations along
the recorded route including: a first display comprising an origin
location area representation; a plurality of sequential displays
comprising sequential location area representations along the
route; and a last display of a destination location area
representation.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the area representation for each
location comprises at least one ground level image representation
of the location.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one ground level
image is a photographic image.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a record of a route recorded by a GPS device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
accessing a record of the route on a computer configured store GPS
data accessing a map database to displaying the route as a map.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
displaying the plurality of sequential displays of the ground level
area representations along the recorded route so as to replicate a
first person view of the route.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the method further comprises:
configuring the computer to provide to a graphic user interface an
user-interactive interface to control and replay the ground level
sequential displays.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the method comprises: receiving a
record of a route recorded by a GPS device; and displaying the
plurality of sequential displays in a time sequence different than
that of the speed of the GPS recorded route.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises:
providing, for at least one of the plurality of locations, a
plurality of area representations configured to display a 360
degree view of the location for the first person view.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
accessing a database storing a plurality of the recorded routes;
wherein the at least one computer and the computer readable storage
medium or media includes computer code that causes the at least one
computer to cause a display device to display thereon, for each
stored route, the plurality of sequential displays of the area
representations along the recorded route.
11. A computer system including at least one computer processor and
computer readable storage medium or media including computer code
configured to provide an electronic representation of a route, the
system comprising: one or more processors programmed at least to
access, from a memory operatively coupled to at least one of the
processors, a record of a route from an origin location to a
destination location; receive a plurality of ground level area
representations of locations corresponding locations along the
recorded route including an origin location and a destination
location; and cause a display device to display thereon a plurality
of sequential displays of the ground level area representations
along the recorded route including a first display comprising an
origin location area representation; a plurality of sequential
displays comprising sequential location area representations along
the route; and a last display of a destination location area
representation.
12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: receive at least one
ground level image representation for each location along the
route.
13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the at least one
ground level image comprises a photographic image.
14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: access a record of a
route recorded by a GPS device.
15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: access a record of
the route for provision to a computer configured to display the
route as a map.
16. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to cause the display to:
cause the display device to display thereon the plurality of
sequential displays of the ground level area representations along
the recorded route so as to replicate a first person view of the
route.
17. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the computer is
configured to provide to a graphic user interface a
user-interactive interface to control and replay the ground level
sequential displays.
18. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: receive a record of
a route recorded by a GPS device; and cause the display device to
display thereon the plurality of sequential displays in a time
sequence different than that of the speed of the GPS recorded
route.
19. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: provide, for at
least one of the plurality of locations, a plurality of area
representations configured to display a 360 degree view of the
location for the first person view.
20. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more
processors are further programmed at least to: store a plurality of
the recorded routes; and cause the display device to display
thereon, for each stored route, the plurality of sequential
displays of the ground level area representations along the
recorded route.
21. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable
storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at
least one processor within a computer system that comprises one or
more processors and a memory operatively coupled to at least one of
the processors, cause the computer system at least to: access, in a
memory operatively coupled to at least one of the processors, a
record of a route from an origin location to a destination
location; receive a plurality of ground level area representations
of locations corresponding locations along the recorded route
including an origin location and a destination location; and cause
display device to display thereon a plurality of sequential
displays of the ground level area representations along the
recorded route including a first display comprising an origin
location area representation; a plurality of sequential displays
comprising sequential location area representations along the
route; and a last display of a destination location area
representation.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0001] The invention disclosed herein relates to electronic
presentation and use of maps and other area representations
(including geographic and non-geographic areas), and related
information, and to the interactive use thereof. The presentations
may be provided to users via any type of communications or computer
network (including wired and/or wireless), such as an intranet,
LAN, WAN or the Internet, a system including interactive
television, or may be provided in local storage, e.g., in a client
or server hard disk or CD, etc.
[0002] Electronically presented maps are available over the
Internet. See, for example, Google Maps
(http://maps.google.com/maps), www.mapquest.com, www.mapsonus.com,
www.maps.expedia.com, www.maps.yahoo.com (accessed through
www.yahoo.com), www.maps.com, www.maps.excite.com, (accessed
through www.excite.com), and www.mapblast.com. Also see U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,974,170, 5,682,525 and 6,148,260.
[0003] In particular, services such as Google Maps are capable of
displaying street level images of geographic locations. These
images, identified in Google Maps as "Street Views," typically
comprise photographs of buildings and other features and allow a
user to view a geographic location from a person's perspective as
compared to a top-down map perspective. The street level images
tend to be taken at discrete locations. The Google Maps service
provides a variety of mechanisms that allow a user to change from
street level image at one location to another, such as clicking an
arrow icon. The Google Maps service also shows an animated
transition between two street level images. For example, if the
user indicates that he or she wants to move forward to the next
image, the client computer is provided with instructions to zoom
into the current street level. The zooming is intended to convey
the impression of travelling into the image. Similarly, if the user
moves to the next street level image, the currently-displayed image
pans to the right or left, respectively. A description of such
"Street Views" can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/391,516, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference
herein.
[0004] It is known to provide an on-board unit which uses
technology such as GPS (Global Positioning System) to monitor a
vehicle's positions and transmit wireless uploads or otherwise
broadcast to a central host system as well as manage of incoming
data traffic without data losses or corruption and/or without
database record locking. Such a unit may also upload vehicle status
events such as engine fault events. GB2345824 and U.S. Pat. No.
7,388,518 describes such systems and methods therefor, the entirety
of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to an embodiment, disclosed is a method of
providing an electronic representation of a route, comprising, in
at least one computer and a computer readable storage medium or
media including computer code: accessing a stored record of a route
from an origin location to a destination location; receiving a
plurality of ground level area representations of locations
corresponding locations along the recorded route including an
origin location and a destination location; the at least one
computer and the computer readable storage medium or media
including computer code that causes the at least one computer to
cause a display device to display thereon a plurality of sequential
displays of the ground level area representations along the
recorded route including: a first display comprising an origin
location area representation; a plurality of sequential displays
comprising sequential location area representations along the
route; and a last display of a destination location area
representation. In an embodiment the at least one ground level
image is a photographic image. In an embodiment, disclosed is
receiving a record of a route recorded by a GPS device.
[0006] In connection with an embodiment, disclosed is a computer
system including at least one computer processor and computer
readable storage medium or media including computer code configured
to provide an electronic representation of a route. The system
comprises one or more processors programmed at least to: access, in
a memory operatively coupled to at least one of the processors, a
record of a route from an origin location to a destination
location; receive a plurality of ground level area representations
of locations corresponding locations along the recorded route
including an origin location and a destination location; and cause
display device to display thereon a plurality of sequential
displays of the ground level area representations along the
recorded route including: a first display comprising an origin
location area representation; a plurality of sequential displays
comprising sequential location area representations along the
route; and a last display of a destination location area
representation. In an embodiment the at least one ground level
image is a photographic image. In an embodiment, disclosed is
receiving a record of a route recorded by a GPS device.
[0007] According to an embodiment, disclosed is a computer program
product comprising a computer-readable storage medium encoded with
instructions that, when executed by at least one processor within a
computer system that comprises one or more processors and a memory
operatively coupled to at least one of the processors, cause the
computer system at least to: access, in a memory operatively
coupled to at least one of the processors, a record of a route from
an origin location to a destination location; receive a plurality
of ground level area representations of locations corresponding
locations along the recorded route including an origin location and
a destination location; and cause display device to display thereon
a plurality of sequential displays of the ground level area
representations along the recorded route including a first display
comprising an origin location area representation; a plurality of
sequential displays comprising sequential location area
representations along the route; and a last display of a
destination location area representation. In an embodiment the at
least one ground level image is a photographic image. In an
embodiment, disclosed is receiving a record of a route recorded by
a GPS device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures
of the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and
not limiting, and in which like references are intended to refer to
like or corresponding things.
[0009] FIGS. 1A-1B block diagrams of a representative computer
system.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
computer system
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a representative GPS system.
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary display for a ground level
representation of a route.
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts and exemplary display for a sequence of
ground level representations of a route.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of
the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements
that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present
invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other
elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable
for implementing the present invention. However, because such
elements are well known in the art, and because they do not
facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a
discussion of such elements is not provided herein.
[0015] The use of the terms "a," "an," "at least one," "one or
more," and similar terms indicate one of a feature or element as
well as more than one of a feature. The use of the term "the" to
refer to the feature does not imply only one of the feature and
element.
[0016] When an ordinal number (such as "first," "second," "third,"
and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal
number is used (unless expressly or clearly specified otherwise)
merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish
that particular feature from another feature that is described by
the same term or by a similar term.
[0017] When a single device, article or other product is described
herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they
cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single
device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality
that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively
be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they
cooperate). Similarly, where more than one device, article or other
product is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a
single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the
more than one device or article that is described. Accordingly, the
various functionality that is described as being possessed by more
than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a
single device/article.
[0018] The functionality and/or the features of a single device
that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more
other devices which are described but are not explicitly described
as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need
not include the described device itself, but rather can include the
one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments,
have such functionality/features.
[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail on the
basis of exemplary embodiments. The invention disclosed herein may
be practiced using programmable digital computers and networks
therefor.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, a system 100 in accordance with one
aspect of the invention includes a computer 140 containing a
processor 145, memory 157 and other components typically present in
general purpose computers.
[0021] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a representative computer. The
computer system 140 includes at least one processor 145, such as an
Intel Core.TM. or Xeon.TM. series microprocessor or a Freescale.TM.
PowerPC.TM. microprocessor, coupled to a communications channel
147. The computer system 140 further includes an input device 149
such as, e.g., a keyboard or mouse, an output device 151 such as,
e.g., a CRT or LCD display, a communications interface 153, a data
storage device 155 such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and
memory 157 such as Random-Access Memory (RAM), each coupled to the
communications channel 147. The communications interface 153 may be
coupled to a network such as the Internet.
[0022] Memory 157 stores information accessible by processor 145,
including instructions that may be executed by the processor 145.
It also includes data that may be retrieved, manipulated or stored
by the processor. The memory may be of any type capable of storing
information accessible by the processor, such as a hard-drive,
memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD, CD-ROM, write-capable, and read-only
memories. The processor 145 may be any well-known processor, such
as processors from Intel Corporation or AMD. Alternatively, the
processor may be a dedicated controller such as an ASIC.
[0023] The instructions may be any set of instructions to be
executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as
scripts) by the processor. In that regard, the terms
"instructions," "steps" and "programs" may be used interchangeably
herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for
direct processing by the processor, or in any other computer
language including scripts or collections of independent source
code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance.
Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained
in more detail below.
[0024] One skilled in the art will recognize that, although the
data storage device 155 and memory 157 are depicted as different
units, the data storage device 155 and memory 157 can be parts of
the same unit or units, and that the functions of one can be shared
in whole or in part by the other, e.g., as RAM disks, virtual
memory, etc. It will also be appreciated that any particular
computer may have multiple components of a given type, e.g.,
processors 145, input devices 149, communications interfaces 153,
etc.
[0025] The data storage device 155 and/or memory 157 may store an
operating system 160 such as Microsoft Windows 7.RTM., Windows
XP.RTM. or Vista.TM., Linux.RTM., Mac OS.RTM., or Unix.RTM.. Other
programs 162 may be stored instead of or in addition to the
operating system. It will be appreciated that a computer system may
also be implemented on platforms and operating systems other than
those mentioned. Any operating system 160 or other program 162, or
any part of either, may be written using one or more programming
languages such as, e.g., Java.RTM., C, C++, C#, Visual Basic.RTM.,
VB.NET.RTM., Perl, Ruby, Python, or other programming languages,
possibly using object oriented design and/or coding techniques.
[0026] Data may be retrieved, stored or modified by processor 145
in accordance with the instructions. For instance, although the
system and method is not limited by any particular data structure,
the data may be stored in computer registers, in a relational
database as a table having a plurality of different fields and
records, XML documents, or flat files. The data may also be
formatted in any computer-readable format such as, but not limited
to, binary values, ASCII or Unicode. By, further way of example
only, image data may be stored as bitmaps comprised of pixels that
are stored in compressed or uncompressed, or lossless or lossy
formats (e.g., JPEG), vector-based formats (e.g., SVG) or computer
instructions for drawing graphics. Moreover, the data may comprise
any information sufficient to identify the relevant information,
such as numbers, descriptive text, proprietary codes, pointers,
references to data stored in other memories (including other
network locations) or information that is used by a function to
calculate the relevant data.
[0027] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the processor and memory may actually comprise multiple
processors and memories that may or may not be stored within the
same physical housing. For example, some of the instructions and
data may be stored on removable CD-ROM and others within a
read-only computer chip. Some or all of the instructions and data
may be stored in a location physically remote from, yet still
accessible by, the processor. Similarly, the processor may actually
comprise a collection of processors which may or may not operate in
parallel.
[0028] One skilled in the art will recognize that the computer
system 140 may also include additional components and/or systems,
such as network connections, additional memory, additional
processors, network interfaces, input/output busses, for example.
One skilled in the art will also recognize that the programs and
data may be received by and stored in the system in alternative
ways. For example, a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) reader
164, such as, e.g., a magnetic disk drive, magneto-optical drive,
optical disk drive, or flash drive, may be coupled to the
communications bus 147 for reading from a computer-readable storage
medium (CRSM) 166 such as, e.g., a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical
disk, an optical disk, or flash RAM. Accordingly, the computer
system 140 may receive programs and/or data via the CRSM reader
164. Further, it will be appreciated that the term "memory" herein
is intended to include various types of suitable data storage
media, whether permanent or temporary, including among other things
the data storage device 155, the memory 157, and the CSRM 166.
[0029] Two or more computer systems 140 may be connected, e.g., in
one or more networks, via, e.g., their respective communications
interfaces 155 and/or network interfaces (not depicted).
[0030] A computer system network is shown in FIG. 1B. A network 182
may, for example, connect Bone or more workstations 184 with each
other and with other computer systems, such as file servers 186 or
mail servers 188. The connection may be achieved tangibly, e.g.,
via Ethernet.RTM. or optical cables, or wirelessly, e.g., through
use of modulated microwave signals according to the IEEE 802.11
family of standards. A computer system that participates in the
network may send data to another computer system in the network via
the network connection.
[0031] One use of a network 180 is to enable a computer system to
provide services to other computer systems, consume services
provided by other computer systems, or both. For example, a file
server 186 may provide common storage of files for one or more of
the workstations 190 on a network 182. A workstation 190 sends data
including a request for a file to the file server 186 via the
network 182 and the file server 186 may respond by sending the data
from the file back to the requesting workstation 190.
[0032] As will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art,
the terms "workstation," "client," and "server" are used herein to
describe a computer's function in a particular context. A
workstation may, for example, be a computer that one or more users
work with directly, e.g., through a keyboard and monitor directly
coupled to the computer system. A computer system that requests a
service through a network is often referred to as a client, and a
computer system that provides a service is often referred to as a
server. But any particular workstation may be indistinguishable in
its hardware, configuration, operating system, and/or other
software from a client, server, or both.
[0033] In one aspect, computer 204 is a server communicating with
one or more client computers 184, 192. For example, computer 204
may be one or more a web servers or hubs and data storage service.
Each client computer may be configured similarly to the server 184,
192, with a processor, memory and instructions 240 (see FIG. 2).
Each client computer 184, 192 may be a personal computer, intended
for use by a person, having all the internal components normally
found in a personal computer such as a central processing unit
(CPU), display device 151 (for example, a monitor having a screen,
a projector, a touch-screen, a small LCD screen, a television, or
another device such as an electrical device that is operable to
display information processed by the processor), CD-ROM,
hard-drive, user input 149 (for example, a mouse, keyboard,
touch-screen or microphone), speakers, modern and/or network
interface device (telephone, cable or otherwise) and all of the
components used for connecting these elements to one another.
Moreover, computers in accordance with the systems and methods
described herein may comprise any device capable of processing
instructions and transmitting data to and from humans and other
computers including general purpose computers, PDAs, network
computers lacking local storage capability, and set-top boxes for
televisions.
[0034] Although the client computers 184, 192 may comprise a
full-sized personal computer, the system and method may also be
used in connection with mobile devices capable of wirelessly
exchanging data with a server over a network such as the Internet.
For example, client computer 1184, 192 may be a wireless-enabled
PDA such as an iPhone, and Android enabled smart phone, a
Blackberry phone, or another Internet-capable cellular phone. In
either regard, the user may input information using a small
keyboard (in the case of a Blackberry phone), a keypad (in the case
of a typical cell phone), a touch screen (in the case of a PDA
and/or smart phone) or any other means of user input.
[0035] Client computers 184, 192 may include a component, such as
circuits, to determine the geographic location of the device. For
example, mobile device may include a GPS receiver. By way of
further example, the component may include software for determining
the position of the device based on other signals received at the
mobile device, such as signals received at a cell phone's antenna
from one or more cell phone towers if the mobile device is a cell
phone.
[0036] Servers 186, 188, 202, 204 and client computers 184 and 192
are capable of direct and indirect communication, such as over a
network 180, 200. Although only a few computers are depicted in
FIGS. 1A-1B, it should be appreciated that a typical system can
include a large number of connected computers, with each different
computer being at a different node of the network 200. The network,
and intervening nodes, may comprise various configurations and
protocols including the Internet, World Wide Web, intranets,
virtual private networks, wide area networks, local networks,
private networks using communication protocols proprietary to one
or more companies, Ethernet, WiFi and HTTP, and various
combinations of the foregoing. Such communication may be
facilitated by any device capable of transmitting data to and from
other computers, such as modems (e.g., dial-up, cable or fiber
optic) and wireless interfaces.
[0037] Although certain advantages are obtained when information is
transmitted or received as noted above, other aspects of the system
and method are not limited to any particular manner of transmission
of information. For example, in some aspects, information may be
sent via a medium such as a disk, tape or CD-ROM. In other aspects,
the information may be transmitted in a non-electronic format and
manually entered into the system. Yet further, although some
functions are indicated as taking place on a server and others on a
client, various aspects of the system and method may be implemented
by a single computer having a single processor.
[0038] A network 182 may be connected to one or more other networks
180, e.g., via a router 196. A router 196 may also act as a
firewall, monitoring and/or restricting the flow of data to and/or
from a network 180 as configured to protect the network. A firewall
may alternatively be a separate device (not pictured) from the
router 196
[0039] A network of networks 180 may be referred to as an internet.
The term "the Internet" 200 refers to the worldwide network of
interconnected, packet-switched data networks that uses the
Internet Protocol (IP) to route and transfer data. A client and
server on different networks may communicate via the Internet 200.
For example, a workstation 190 may request a World Wide Web
document from a Web Server 202. The Web Server 202 may process the
request and pass it to, e.g., an Application Server 204. The
Application Server 204 may then conduct further processing, which
may include, for example, sending data to and/or receiving data
from one or more other data sources. Such a data source may
include, e.g., other servers on the same network
[0040] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a computers system 10 is
configured to provide an electronic representation of a route. The
system is programmed to store in a memory operatively coupled to at
least processor, a record of a route from an origin location to a
destination location. A client computer 184, 194 may be configured,
for example, to have software programmed to store a record of a
route locally, or the client may access a server 204 of a service
provider that stores and maintains records of such routes in a DBMS
208.
[0041] The system 100 is configured to provide a user with a
plurality of ground level area representations of locations
corresponding locations along the recorded route including an
origin location and a destination location. A description of
exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for generating and
providing ground level area representations can be found at in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/391,516, the entirety of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
[0042] In one embodiment, a map database 270 of server 204 stores
map-related information 272, 274, 276 at least a portion of which
may be transmitted to a client device 184, 194. As shown in FIG. 2,
for example, map database 270 may store map tiles 272, where each
tile is a map image of a particular geographic area. Depending on
the resolution (e.g., whether the map is zoomed in or out), one
tile may cover an entire region such as a state in relatively
little detail. Another tile may cover just a few streets in high
detail. The map information is not limited to any particular
format. For example, the images may comprise street maps, satellite
images, or a combination of these, and may be stored as vectors
(particularly with respect to street maps) or bitmaps (particularly
with respect to satellite images). The various map tiles are each
associated with geographical locations, such that the server 204 is
capable of selecting, retrieving and transmitting one or more tiles
in response to receipt of a geographical location.
[0043] As noted below, the locations may be expressed in various
ways including but not limited to latitude/longitude positions,
street addresses, points on a map (such as when a user clicks on a
map), building names, other data capable of identifying one or more
geographic locations, and ranges of the foregoing.
[0044] Electronically presented maps are available over the
Internet. See, for example, Google Maps
(http://maps.google.com/maps), Microsoft Bing Maps,
www.mapquest.com, www.mapsonus.com, www.maps.expedia.com,
www.maps.yahoo.com (accessed through www.yahoo.com), www.maps.com,
www.maps.excite.com, (accessed through www.excite.com), and
www.mapblast.com. Also see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,170, 5,682,525 and
6,148,260, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0045] The map database may also store ground level images 274 such
as "street level" images. Ground level images 274 comprise images
of objects at geographic locations, captured by cameras at
geographic locations, in a direction generally parallel to the
ground. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, ground level image data may
represent various geographic objects such as buildings 320-22,
sidewalks 330-31 and street or road 340 from a perspective of a few
feet above the ground and looking down the street or road. It will
be understood that while ground level image 310 only shows a few
objects for ease of explanation, a typical street level image will
contain as many objects associable with geographic locations
(street lights, mountains, trees, bodies of water, vehicles,
people, etc.) in as much detail as the camera was able to
capture.
[0046] The ground level image may be captured by a camera mounted
on top of a vehicle, from a camera angle pointing roughly parallel
to the ground and from a camera position at or below the legal
limit for vehicle heights (e.g., 7-14 feet). Ground level images
are not limited to any particular height above the ground, for
example, a street level image may be taken from the top of
building. Panoramic street-level images up to 360 degrees may be
created by stitching together a plurality of photographs taken from
different camera angles.
[0047] The system 140 is configured cause the display device 155 to
display thereon a plurality of sequential displays of the ground
level area representations 310 for locations along a route, as
shown in FIGS. 4-5. In one embodiment the route includes a first
display comprising an origin location area representation; a
plurality of sequential displays comprising sequential location
area representations along the route; and a last display of a
destination location area representation. The system 140 can be
configured to receive at least one ground level image
representation for each location along the route, or for selected
locations along the route.
[0048] In one embodiment, the system is programmed work in
conjunction with a system configured to provide a record of a route
recorded by a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, for example,
using an on-board unit which uses technology such as GPS to monitor
a vehicle's positions and transmit wireless uploads to a central
host system. Referring to FIG. 3 a vehicle tracking system
comprises on-board units 1 in vehicles which communicate wirelessly
via mobile networks 2 to gateways 3. In this diagram two wireless
protocols are indicated, namely GPRS and CDMA. However there are
typically a variety of additional protocols, including EDGE, 4G
Wireless protocols, protocols for WiFi and other such protocols as
known to ordinarily skilled artisans. The gateways 3 communicate
using protocols such as UDP or other wireless protocol via the
Internet 4 with a host system having receivers 5 which are
operating system services, and a data storage system 6, (such as,
for example DBMS 208). The incoming data is written from the
receivers 5 to the data storage system 6. GB2345824 and U.S. Pat.
No. 7,388,518 describes such systems and methods therefor, the
entirety of each of which are incorporated by reference herein. As
will be understood, the date system storing GPS data and route data
can different from the system which stores and provides map
data.
[0049] One or more systems 100 can be further programmed record the
route. The recorded route can then be provided to a computer system
100 configured to display the route as a map on a display device
151 of a client device 184, as described above. The computer system
100 can then be configured cause the display to display thereon the
plurality of sequential displays of the ground level area
representations along the recorded route so as to replicate a first
person view of the route. The system 140 is configured to provide
to the graphic user interface 151 a user-interactive interface to
control and replay the ground level sequential displays as shown in
FIGS. 4-5.
[0050] For example in one embodiment, an on-board GPS unit uploads
one or more point-to-point routes it as traveled to a central host
system. These travelled routes can be presented to a user on a
display device 151, for example, as a layout shown in FIG. 4. At
400, the routes taken for at least one vehicle can be displayed in
an interactive graphic. As shown in 400, one screen has a
scrollable interface for viewing statistics and routes taken for a
vehicle for a number of days 402a, 402b, 402c . . . 402n. As an
alternative, routes taken for each of a fleet of vehicles on a
given day could be presented. Each day or vehicle can have, for
example, statistics for one or more routes R1, R2, R3, R4 . . . Rn
recorded for that vehicle by an on board GPS device. The origin and
destination for route can be determined in any number of ways, as
for example between deliveries for a delivery service (e.g., the
origin being the start of day, the destination being the first
delivery point, which thereafter is the origin point for the next
delivery destination, and so on until the end of a work period for
vehicle operation, for example, an workday). In another example, an
origin point can be the point where the vehicle's work period
starts and the destination where it ends (e.g. end of vehicle
operation for a given workday). The definition of a route for a
vehicle can thus be defined in terms of the needs of a given
business or other measurement model. Locations and time stamps can
also be provided for points along the route (e.g., every 60
seconds).
[0051] For each route, a number of points representing locations
along the route can be recorded from the GPS and stored at the DBMS
208 of a central host system. A displayable map can be offered as
described above and as shown in 410. As shown at 410, the four
routes are overlaid each with a distinguishing graphic on a
displayable electronic map 410. In one embodiment, a user can
select a recorded GPS route R1 for Vehicle 1 using an input device
149 such as a mouse, which would then highlight or display the
route R1 on the map 410. For the selected Route R1, the user is
presented with a "Route Replay"420 to give the client a first
person perspective of the route.
[0052] The system 140 is configured to provide to the graphic user
interface 151 a user-interactive interface to control and replay
the ground level sequential displays for locations along the route
R1. In one embodiment, an input control graphic 422 has
user-selectable objects, selectable by a mouse or key inputs for
example, has at least one fast forward object 424, at least one
play 425 and/or pause object 423, and at least one rewind object
426. A user can select these objects to start, stop, and control
the speed of a first person view of a sequence T1, T2, T3, T4, T5
of ground level images such as street view photographs along the
route R1 recorded by the GPS, as shown in FIG. 5. At least one icon
412 could also be provided on the map 410 or in another area of the
graphic which moves along with the sequence of images presented in
the "Route Replay." A graphic 403 can also show locations and time
stamps can also be provided for points along the route (e.g., every
60 seconds).
[0053] FIG. 5 shows a time sequence T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 . . . Tn of
ground level images 420 that are presented to a user on a display
device 151. As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the sequence,
T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 . . . Tn of ground level images is played for
locations along the route in a manner like a slide show, giving the
viewer a first person view of the exact route taken by the vehicle
on a time-scale proportionate to the vehicle's movement. Thus in
such an embodiment, the speed, starts and stops of the vehicle will
be presented so as to reflect the recorded route as travelled
vehicle.
[0054] In another embodiment, a preset play speed causes the
display device 151 to display thereon the plurality of sequential
displays in a time sequence different than that of the speed and
movement of the vehicle recorded by the GPS. Thus, for example, the
sequence of ground level images such as photographs of points along
the route, may be presented slower than a "real time" record of the
route to allow for a more viewer-friendly presentation of the
sequence of images where, for instance, a real time presentation
would present the images in sequence too quickly.
[0055] In another embodiment, transitioning from image to image may
be smoothed or made more continuous, as described in incorporated
reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/391,596. In such an
embodiment a "real time" presentation of a "Route Replay" can be
contemplated.
[0056] As explained above, panoramic street-level images up to 360
degrees may be created by stitching together a plurality of
photographs taken from different camera angles. In another
embodiment, system 140 can provide, for at least one of the
plurality of locations along the route, a plurality of ground level
area representations configured to display a 360 degree view of the
location for the first person view.
[0057] Systems and modules described herein may comprise software,
firmware, hardware, or any combination(s) of software, firmware, or
hardware suitable for the purposes described herein. Software and
other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal
computers, computerized tablets, PDAs, and other devices suitable
for the purposes described herein. Software and other modules may
be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or
other application in an ASP context, or via other means suitable
for the purposes described herein. Data structures described herein
may comprise computer files, variables, programming arrays,
programming structures, or any electronic information storage
schemes or methods, or any combinations thereof, suitable for the
purposes described herein. User interface elements described herein
may comprise elements from graphical user interfaces, command line
interfaces, and other interfaces suitable for the purposes
described herein. Except to the extent necessary or inherent in the
processes themselves, no particular order to steps or stages of
methods or processes described in this disclosure, including the
Figures, is implied. In many cases the order of process steps may
be varied, and various illustrative steps may be combined, altered,
or omitted, without changing the purpose, effect or import of the
methods described.
[0058] Accordingly, while the invention has been described and
illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, many
variations and modifications as will be evident to those skilled in
this art may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention, and the invention is thus not to be limited to the
precise details of methodology or construction set forth above, as
such variations and modification are intended to be included within
the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended
claims should not be limited to the description and illustrations
of the embodiments contained herein.
* * * * *
References